California

"Leo Ortega started growing spiky blue agave plants on the arid hillsides around his Southern California home because his wife liked the way they looked. A decade later, his property is now dotted with thousands of what he and others hope is a promising new crop for the state following years of punishing drought and a push to scale back on groundwater pumping."

"News had barely broken of plans to eradicate thousands of nonnative mule deer on Santa Catalina Island before conservation biologist Lauren Dennhardt found herself the target of enraged Avalon residents."

"Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is so green right now it’s hard to believe it’s in the middle of the desert."

"Hundreds of firefighters aided by aircraft on Tuesday battled a wind-driven wildfire that damaged or destroyed at least nine buildings in rural Southern California and prompted authorities to order 4,000 residents to evacuate."

"A California law requiring baby food makers to test their products for toxic heavy metals is expected to surpass FDA guidelines in the race to pressure manufacturers to limit exposure, food safety groups say."

"The largest trees on the planet can’t easily ‘migrate’ — but in a warming world, some humans are helping them try to find new homes."

"The Democratic governor is supercharging climate policy and eyeing a future White House run. But critics say some of his constituents could be left behind."

"Gavin Newsom, the California governor, packed his bags and his ambition Monday and flew to Chinese provinces on a weeklong mission to negotiate climate agreements.

Last month, he was the only American invited to address the United Nations about climate change, where he excoriated the fossil fuel industry for what he called its decades of “deceit and denial.”

"Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Saturday that would require large corporations operating in the state to disclose both their carbon footprints and their climate-related financial risks starting in 2026."